present simple, present continuous (1)
basic uses of present simple and present continuous
• Use present simple for facts, or things that always happen. Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit and 0 degrees Celsius. Sea water contains on average 2.7% salt by weight.
• Use present simple for routines and habits. The birds return to the island every spring. Fiddler crabs turn red when they become angry.
• Use present continuous for actions happening at the moment of speaking, and not finished.
Sorry, I'm busy at the moment. I'm doing my homework.
• Present continuous is also used for actions happening generally around the time of speaking, rather than exactly at the same time.
I'm reading a really interesting book.
state and action verbs
Some verbs have meanings which refer to states or conditions, and others have meanings which refer to actions. State verbs are either only used in simple form, or have a different meaning when used in continuous form.
state verbs normally in present simple
• belong, consist of, contain, cost, depend on, deserve, matter, own, possess, resemble Does this belong to you?
Fresh fruit contains a range of vitamins.
• believe, imagine, know, prefer, realize, understand, mean
Some people still believe that the Earth is flat.
• seem
This seems to be what we're looking for.
• cosf is sometimes used in continuous to describe a process that is still going on.
We're having a house built, and it's costing a fortune!
• realize, regret, understand
These are normally used with state meanings in present simple, but can be used in continuous to show a changing situation, usually with an adverbial which shows that change is happening. Some people don't realize how dangerous cars can be. People are slowly realizing the cost of global warming. Do you understand this point?
We're understanding more and more about the universe.
verbs with state and action meanings
state action
• do
What do you do? (= what's your job) What are you doing? (= explain your actions)
• be, have
This house is over 100 years old. He is being very silly I
Do you have a car? I'm having a great time here.
• imagine, suppose, think, expect
I suppose this is Jim. You're supposing he is guilty. (= make an assumption)
/ imagine you feel the same. Ghosts! No, you're imagining things!
What do you think? (= have an opinion)       What are you thinking?
I'm thinking of changing jobs. (= considering) / don't expect him to understand Are you expecting someone?
• hope, wonder
I hope you haven't been waiting long. We're hoping to continue the talks next week, (less definite)
« enjoy, like, love
Normally state verbs, but often used in continuous for actions going on at the moment / en/oy / love going for long walks Are you enjoying the party?
I'm loving every minute of my new job!
Tom is appearing in Hamlet at the Grand Theatre.
appear
Your visa appears to be out of date, look
With the state meaning of 'seem', look can be used in present simple only. This book looks interesting.
In descriptions of appearance, look can be used in both simple and continuous. Jim looks ill. Helen is looking well.
• see, hear
I see / hear you've had your hair cut. I didn't hear any noises.
• feel, see, smell, taste The room smells awful!
Jane is seeing Harry. (= spending time with) You're hearing things! (= imagining)
I'm smelling the flowers! (an active choice)
• ache, feel, hurt
Verbs that describe how the body feels can use either simple or continuous forms with little change in meaning. My foot hurts. I feel sick.
• weigh, measure This bag weighs more than 25 kilos.
My foot is hurting. I'm feeling sick
I'm weighing the parcel before I post it.
Note that what is said here about present simple and present continuous is generally true for simple and continuous use in other tenses.
1   Underline the correct form.
a Some kinds of fish contain / are containing high levels of dangerous metals.
b Scientists nowadays slowly begin to understand / are slowly beginning to understand more about
how the brain works, c What do you think / are you thinking of Kate's new hairstyle? It's unusual, isn't it? d Loud music can be really annoying. Some people don't realize / aren't realizing what a
nuisance it can be. e You can't really have seen a UFO! You imagine / are imagining things!
f Technicians report that they have / are having difficulty installing the new computer system.
g No wine for me! / take /I'm taking antibiotics for an ear infection.
h In career terms, having a good degree appears / is appearing to make little difference.
i   The National Theatre considers / is considering putting on a new production of Uncle Vanya.
j   Does this wallet belong / Is this wallet belonging to you?
2   Underline the present simple / continuous verb errors in the text. Write a correction at the end of the line where necessary.
15 Tip-tree ed eV2<3 7 Al
friday, \5th October
tfi everyone,
I have problems qettinq a new phone connection here, so instead a l!*t.fuWfflg.
of sendinq e-maiIs as usual, I'm actually sittinq down to write a b ........................................
letter.
I'm imaqininq Lfou'll be surprised to qet this as iVe never been > c ........................................
much of a letter-writer. I'm puttinq the return address in biq ',  d ..-....................................
le-H-ers at the top, because to ten you the truth I'm beqinninq to feel e ........................................
quite lonely here.
Well, perhaps I'm not weaninq that exactly. There are plenty of f ........................................
people for me to tak to. in Pact I seffte in to the student life quite g ........................................
ujell, buf I don^t really know anyone yet. I've qot a room in a house h
a lonq way from CollCqc, and I'm seeminq to spend a lonq time on i ........................................
the bus. A lot of students here CyCle, so I'm tryinq to find a Cheap j ........................................
b/'ke, and I also think of movinq nearer to College when I can find k ........................................
Somewhere. Sorry - an interruption, Someone knocks at the door, rflore I ........................................
later. Later. One of the qirIs downstairs has a party, and I'm invited. rn
And the phone line has been fixed, so I'm eypectinq ipj'll qet an e- n ........................................
mail from me very soon! In fact, I Consider tearinq up this le-H-er, So o ........................................
just iqnore everythinq I've said ...
r
3   Complete the text with the present simple or present continuous form of the verb in brackets.
European traffic accident rates fail to meet targets
Although the number of deaths caused in traffic accidents in the EU a (go down)   'S ^om^j doiiA........| experts
b (still try).......................................................to find ways of reducing the number throughout the EU to around 25,000 fatalities
per year by 2010. Traffic safety c (improve)........................................................but experts d (believe)........................................................that
achieving the 2010 goal will prove difficult. Recent statistics e (show)........................................................that in 2005 in the EU
41,600 people were killed in road accidents. Although progress has been made, most experts
f (agree)......................................................that this figure will have fallen to only around 32,000 by 2010, which
g (means)........................................................that the EU target will be missed by about 7,000. On the other hand, as the amount
of traffic h (increase),........................................................it is possible to argue that the situation is not really as bad as it
i (look).........................................................However one j (interpret)........................................................the statistics, it
k (remain)........................................................true that as time goes on, it I (become)........................................................harder and harder to
reduce the figures, especially since accident-reduction schemes m (cost)........................................................a lot of money. Many
countries have tried and failed to reduce the number of accidents, and in the EU as a whole, only Sweden
n (pursue).......................................................the goal of zero accidents. Accident reduction is more difficult for newer EU members
who o (currently face)....................................................i very rapid growth in traffic and p (have)........................................•..............difficulty
in building new roads and in introducing safety measures at a fast enough rate. To complicate matters, most new
members q (have).......................................................very little experience in dealing with the demands of heavy traffic. Experts
r (suggest)........................................................that any safety programme must also set about changing the way drivers
s (behave).........................................................Despite what people often t (say)........................................................it u (seem)
........................................................to be the younger generation that v (cause)........................................................most accidents. In line with
this research, many countries w (introduce)........................................................tougher driving tests, and x (concentrate)
........................................................on the main causes of accidents: speed, reckless overtaking, alcohol, and over-confidence.
EXTENSION ACTIVITY
Write four sentences about yourself using these verbs: enjoy  hope  regret  think (of +ing)
Use a dictionary and write an example for each of these verbs, using present simple. belong   consist of contain   cost  depend on deserve  matter  own  possess resemble
C
<D
CD
present simple, present continuous (2)
more uses of present simple
Present simple is also used
• in informal spoken instructions, with you.
You open this part of the camera here. Then you take out the battery.
Formal written instructions such as recipes use the imperative form. Take 300g of flour. Add three eggs.
• in newspaper headlines to describe events. There are other conventions for writing headlines, such as leaving out articles, using active verbs, and preferring short words.
• for performative verbs accept, apologize, dare, deny, understand, see (with a meaning of
'understand') etc. These are verbs which, when used in present simple, describe an action as the word is spoken.
/ agree with you.   I accept your offer.
• for verbs reporting news: gather, hear, see, tell, say, understand. I hear you've got a new job.
People tell me she's difficult to work with. We understand that the house is now for sale. (See Unit 19, reporting verbs)
• in here comes, there goes, here lies.
These expressions include inversion of verb and subject. Here comes trouble!    There goes a brave man! Here lies John Smith, (written on a tomb)
colloquial narrative and commentary
Although narrative generally uses past tenses, there are uses of present simple and present continuous in everyday speech.
• In jokes, present simple can be used instead of past simple for narrative events, and present continuous instead of past continuous.
A man goes to see his psychiatrist. He says he is having problems because he imagines he's a pair of curtains. The psychiatrist tells him to pull himself together.
• In sports commentaries, present simple is often used to describe events happening as the commentator speaks.
And now Rooney crosses the half-way line and passes to Giggs.
Present continuous is also used in commentaries for continuous and changing events.
And the two Italians are moving up in the outside lane.
I understand.
I see.
• Plot summaries in films and books are generally in present simple.
Tom and Daisy are an old couple who live a dull life in a suburb of Birmingham. But everything changes when their granddaughter Karen comes to stay.
summary of meaning in the continuous
• verbs that describe activities which continue for some time, eg play, rain, read, work, write etc It's raining.   The children are playing upstairs.
Note that the activity may not be going on at the exact moment of speaking.
I'm reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.   (I haven't finished it yet, but I'm not reading
at this moment)
• verbs that describe a changing situation, eg change, get + adjective, grow, increase etc It's getting dark.   Computers are changing all the time.
repeated actions with continually etc
In everyday speech we can use present continuous with an adverb such as continually, forever, constantly, always to criticize actions that we feel are irritating or annoying, or which we wish to exaggerate. The adverb is usually stressed in speech.
You are continually interrupting!
He's forever getting into trouble!
simple or continuous?
In some cases, the choice between simple and continuous is part of the attitude of the writer or speaker, especially in explanations and descriptions of situations.
Professor Thorne explains that some patients eat too much because they grow up in families with poor eating habits.
Professor Thorne explains that some patients are eating too much because they are growing up in families with poor eating habits.
The first example (present simple) describes something that is generally true, the second (present continuous) describes something more temporary or something not always the case.
These exercises include material from Unit One.
1   Underline the correct verb form. Tick the sentence if both forms are possible.
a I can't walk any more. My knee is really hurting / really hurts.
b This cheese is smelling / smells terrible!
c Thanks for your e-mail. I'm hoping /1 hope to get back to you very soon,
d 'What are you doing/do yon do?'   'I'm a musician.'
e We're having our house completely redecorated. It's costing/It costs a lot.
f In this country, more than a million people are living / live in poverty.
g Can you stop the car? I'm feeling/I feel a bit sick.
h 'What's the answer?' 'Wait a moment, I'm thinking /1 think.'
i I think we're beginning / we begin to understand this problem.
j Nice to see you again! You're looking / You look really great!
2   Put the verb in brackets into present simple or present continuous.
a Somebody (knock).........../S knocking...........................at the door. Can you see who it is?
b First you (cook)..........................................................................the onions in a little oil until they are golden
brown.
c.  Carlos (forever lose)..........................................................................his temper with people! He must learn to
calm down.
d Here (come)..........................................................................the bus! You'd better hurry!
e 'Where's Jack? ' 'He (read)..........................................................................the paper in the kitchen.'
f  Whenever I put up my hand, Harry (kick)..........................................................................me under the desk.
g I'm sorry, but I (not understand)..........................................................................you.
h Maria (leave)..........................................................................now, so could you get her coat?
i   Come and eat your dinner. It (get)..........................................................................cold.
j   I (hear)..........................................................................you did really well in your exams. Well done!
3   Complete each sentence with the present simple or present continuous form of the verb in brackets.
a (you do)   An?., ipu doin,^.....................anything at the moment? I need some help with the
computer.
b This product (contain)..........................................................................no added chemicals of any kind.
c  Nobody (visit)..........................................................................Rome without going to see the ruins of the Roman
Forum.
d Sarah (begin).........................................................................to regret not taking the job in France she was
offered.
e Martin (see)..........................................................................Tina at the moment. They've been going out
together for the past month.
f  I'm sorry, but I (not know)..........................................................................where George is at the moment.
g 'Is Helen ready yet?' 'She (take)..........................................................................her time, but she says she'll be
ready soon.'
h The larger of the two rooms (measure)..........................................................................8 in by 4 in.
i   What (happen)..........................................................................in the street now? I can't seen anything from
here.
j   There's nobody else to do the job, so I (suppose)..........................................................................I'll have to do it.
Complete the two texts with the present simple or present continuous form of the verb in brackets. If both forms are possible, write both.
Doctors express concern over heavy school bags
Every year thousands of children a (go)...............<%o............................................to the doctor because of back
pain, and in fact, this kind of problem b (rapidly become)....................................................................one of the
most common childhood complaints. And what exactly c (cause) ....................................................................this
outbreak of back strain and muscle fatigue? It d (seem)....................................................................that even quite
young children e (take) ....................................................................more and more to school - not just books, but
also clothes and games players - and their backpacks f (simply weigh)...................................................................too
much. 'Some kids g (carry) ....................................................................more than 2 5% of their bodyweight in a bag
that has a nice cartoon character on the bag, but which h (actually give) ........................................................
them serious backache,' reported Dr Elaine Sachs, a GP in North London. 'Most parents
i (simply not realize) .................................................................what j (happen)....................................................................to
their children.'
Investigators to report on train crash
Accident investigators k (still examine) ........................................................................................the wreckage of the high-speed train
which left the rails and overturned in northwest England last week. According to reports, they
I (not believe) ........................................................................................the accident m (involve) ....................................................................................... driver
error. 'We n (expect) ........................................................................................to publish a inquiry into this accident quite soon/ a
spokesman announced yesterday.'Engineers o (work) ........................................................................................round the clock to replace
the track, and we p (hope) ........................................................................................to restore a normal service within two weeks. We
q (realize) ........................................................................................that people r (depend) ........................................................................................on the
railway, and we s (understand)......................................................................................how much everyone has been shocked by this
accident. However, we t (check) ........................................................................................thousands of sections of track all over the
country to make sure that nothing like this can ever happen again.'
Rewrite the sentence so that it contains a word from the list and has same meaning.
belong  contain  cost  look  matter  see  seem  smell  think weigh
a Is this car yours, sir?.....Do&ft -rkrS car fcv.lcm^ +o ipu, S/'rf...............................................................
b This perfume has a nice smell......................................................................................................................................................
c I think there's a mistake.......................................................................................................................................................................
d I don't understand what you mean.......................................................................................................................................
e What's your opinion? .............................................................................................................................................................................
i At birth a baby elephant is about 90 kg in weight..............................................................................................
g Is the price important?............................................................................................................................................................................
Ii What's the price of this model? ..................................................................................................................................................
i This book could be interesting.....................................................................................................................................................
j What's in the box?......................................................................................................................................................................................
6   Write a new sentence with the same meaning containing a form of the word in capitals.
a Apparently, Harry is a very good card player. IWe-u saii HarTM rS a veru aood card ol^acr.	SAY
b This maths problem is incomprehensible to me!	UNDERSTAND
c I have the same opinion as you.	AGREE
d 'Where's Anna?' 'At work in the garden.'	WORK
e Stop shouting, the teacher's in the corridor.	COME
f  Somebody is at the door.	KNOCK
g According to some people, UFOs have landed on Earth.	BELIEVE
h It's hotter all the time in here.	GET
i   Skiing is my favourite sport.	LOVE
j   Peter keeps losing his homework!	ALWAYS
Complete the text with the present simple or present continuous form of the verb in brackets.	
1      Just joking - Internet Surfer	asm
File   Edit View Bookmarks   Toolbox   About Surfer	
NT-      tau ö ö Addres* 1	a i-1
	Iffeí    1   Urdu //
Big Brother's watching you!
A burglar a (try) +0>.S...................to break into a big house in the country. He b (walk)
.....................................very quietly across the garden when he c (hear).....................................a voice:
'Big Brother d (watch).....................................you!' He e (turn).....................................around, but he
f (not see).....................................anything. So he g (creep).....................................nearer to the house.
Suddenly he h (hear).....................................the voice again and he i (see).....................................a cage
hanging from a tree. A parrot j (sit).....................................in the cage. The burglar k (ask)
....................................the parrot, 'Did you say that stuff about Big Brother?' The parrot
I (answer).....................................'Yes I did.' 'Is that your name then?' The parrot m (say)
.....................................'No, my name's Montmorency.' The burglar n (laugh).....................................
'What kind of stupid idiot would name his parrot Montmorency?' The parrot
o (reply).....................................'The same stupid idiot who named his Rottweiler 'Big Brother'
- that's the guard dog that p (stand).....................................right behind you!'
8   Complete the text with the present simple or present continuous form of the verb in brackets. Where both are possible, write both.
Students now taking longer to finish studies
In the USA some university students nowadays a (spend) ..JSCS^^fsJB^.........more and more time in
university before graduating. In American universities, many students b (pay)........................................................their
own fees, and this c (mean)........................................................more time working and less studying. Alan Chester is
a 25-year-old journalism student from Ohio who d (take)........................................................six years to complete his
undergraduate degree. In order to pay tuition fees and other expenses he e (work)........................................................
four days a week in the university kitchen, while in the university holidays he f (do)........................................................a
full-time job. '1 g (find)........................................................it difficult at the moment to study and pay my bills at the
same time,' he h (admit)........................................................'But 1 i (try)........................................................my best and I
j (manage)........................................................to keep the wolf from the door.' Alan's parents
k (understand)........................................................his decision to take longer to graduate. 'They
I (know)........................................................what 1 m (go)........................................................through, and they
n (help)........................................................me as much as they can. It's hard, but 1 o (learn)
................................................to look after myself, and I p (experience)........................................................
stuff that might be useful one day when I'm a journalist.' He q (point out)
........................................................that some students r (take)........................................................more time
to graduate because they s (not really know)........................................................what
they t (want)........................................................to study. 'New courses of study
u (develop)........................................................all the time, new subjects
v (appear)........................................................on the curriculum. Some students
w (spend)........................................................time experimenting with different
courses before choosing their major. So it's not all about money.
I x (think)........................................................universities y (go)........................................................
through a period of change like everything else, and students have to adapt to this changing situation.'
EXTENSION ACTIVITY
A   Use these verbs in present simple or present continuous to make more interview questions like these below: do  own  believe in  have  like weigh. Use the questions to interview a partner.
Wk#-f do Upu -think o-f ... ? (name a film book etc) Wk<a+ are, ipu re,adin.<^ a-t mofu&ft+f
B   Look these words up in a dictionary and find example sentences which use the present simple form: gather, hear, see, tell, understand
present perfect
present perfect simple Use present perfect simple
• to refer to events connected to the present, without a definite past time, often with just. Someone has stolen my bike!    I've just had an idea.
m to refer to indefinite events that happened at an unknown time in the past. This time is often recent, and is often used in news items when the information is 'current'.
Archaeologists have discovered an Anglo-Saxon palace in London. Police have recaptured two escaped prisoners.
The time can also be all time up to the present. No-one has (ever) proved that aliens exist.
• to refer to indefinite events with a result in the present.
My car has broken down.   (That's why I want a lift from you)
• to describe what has been done or how many things completed in a period of time.
The building has been completed on time.
United have scored three goals, and there's still half an hour left.
• to describe a living person's experiences, what he or she has done in life so far. She has painted some of the best portraits of recent years.
• to describe a state that lasts up to the present, with state verbs. I've worked in this department for the past six months.
• to refer to a repeated action in a period of time up to the present. I've cooked dinner every night for ten years!
• with some time expressions.
I've worked here since 2002.
This is the first time I've eaten squid!
We've already seen this film.
Note that most time expressions can be used with various tenses. I've lived here for ten years, (present perfect simple: I'm still here) I lived there for three years, (past simple: I'm not there now)
present perfect simple or past simple
• Use present perfect simple for unfinished time and past simple for finished time. She has painted some of the best portraits of recent years.
She painted some of the best portraits of recent years.
In the first sentence the action has happened in a period up to the present, and may well continue. In the second sentence the action is finished. The artist may be dead. The events are in a period of time not connected to the present.
• Use to show speaker attitude.
Speakers may decide whether they see an event as connected to the present (present perfect simple) or not (past simple). This may be a matter of time or place. Tense use is here a matter of choice, rather than of grammatical 'right' or 'wrong'.
I've left my books at home. (The speaker feels the event is recent, or is still near home.) / left my books at home (The speaker feels the event is distant in time and place.)
• Use with different time expressions.
/ haven't been to the cinema for ages I a long time.
Present perfect refers to an action over a period of time and for describes how long the period is.
It's ages I a long time since I went to the cinema.
It's ages describes a period of time since an event and past simple describes when that event happened.
present perfect continuous Use present perfect continuous
• for recent continuing activities, continuing up to the present. I've been waiting here for half an hour! I haven't been taking a lot of exercise lately.
• to explain a present situation.
I've been washing the dog - that's why my clothes are wet.
• to emphasize the length of a continuing activity. I've been working on my project all morning.
• for a repeated activity, to emphasize the repetition of the activity. He's been phoning me every day since the party.
• with how long questions.
How long have you been having these disturbing dreams? (this is a continuing process, and isn't finished)
• with mean, think, consider.
I've been thinking of changing my job.
I've been meaning to get in touch with Helen.
• with time words lately, recently, all (day), every (morning), for, since. What have you been doing lately I recently?
I've been working on these accounts all day I since 9.001 for hours.
present perfect continuous or present perfect simple
• With state verbs such as live, work, there is little contrast.
How long have you lived here? How long have you been living here?
• Verbs such as sit, stay, wait prefer the continuous form.
• With event verbs, present perfect simple emphasizes completion. I've written my letters, (finished)
I've been writing letters, (describes my activity during a recent period)
ts
CD
CD Q.
C
CD in CD i_
Q. ©
Complete the sentence with the present perfect simple or past simple form of the verb in brackets.
a Ian McEwan is a British writer who, according to many critics, (write) uJVi\-->ce,A........................
some of the best novels of recent years, b Born in 1948, he (spend)..................................................................much of his childhood abroad as his father was
an army officer.
c He (study)..................................................................English literature and creative writing at the universities of
Sussex and East Anglia.
d He (write)..................................................................a number of successful collections of short stories and novels.
e His novel The Child in Time (win).................................................................the Whitbread Novel Award in 1987.
f  His later novels, including Amsterdam, Atonement and Saturday, (be)..................................................................very
successful.
g Amsterdam (receive)..................................................................the Booker Prize for Fiction in 1998.
h Atonement and Saturday (also win)..................................................................literary prizes.
i   However, McEwan (always be)..................................................................a controversial writer.
j   Some writers (accuse)..................................................................him of stealing details in Atonement from the work
of another author, Lucilla Andrews, k However, he (point out)..................................................................the acknowledgement made to Lucilla Andrews
in an author's note in the book. I   During this controversy, the American author Thomas Pynchon (write)..................................................................a
defence of McEwan in a British newspaper.
Underline the correct form.
The nature of intelligence
For many years scientists a tried / have been trying to define the nature of human intelligence. However, they b were / have been unable to agree on whether there is one kind of intelligence, or several kinds. In the early 20th century, psychologist Charles Spearman c came up / has come up with the concept of 'g' or 'general intelligence'. He d gave / had given subjects a variety of different tests and e found / has found that the people who f performed / have performed well in the tests g used/ have used one part of the brain, which he h catted/ has catted 'g', for all the tests. More recently, research i found / has found that this idea may well be true, as one part of the brain (the lateral prefrontal cortex) shows increased blood flow during testing. However, some scientists believe that intelligence is a matter of how much people j teamed / have teamed rather than some ability they are born with. They believe that environment also matters.
Rewrite the sentence so that it means the same as the first sentence. Use present perfect simple or continuous.
a I came here at 3.00 and now it's 5.00. J '^A^fS ^xe- ^or...................two hours.
b I haven't seen this film before. This is..........................................................................................film.
c Mark is asleep. Mark..........................................................................................to bed.
d I began work here in 1999. I...........................................................................................since 1999.
e Anna isn't here yet. Anna...........................................................................................yet.
f We don't know each other. We...........................................................................................before.
g There isn't any food left. Someone...........................................................................................all the food.
h We started waiting in this queue half an hour ago!     We...........................................................................................for half an hour.
i It's a long time since I was last here. I...........................................................................................a long time.
j This is our seventh wedding anniversary. We...........................................................................................seven years.
r ; '
4  Complete the text using the present perfect simple, present perfect continuous or past simple form of the verb in brackets.
The ageing population
The number of men and women in the US aged 60 or over still in work a (rise) H«S bc.e-n r/Sm<rj for more than a decade. Economists b (give)
.........................................................................a number of reasons for this trend. First,
since 1985 the US economy c (expand)...........................................................
so there d (be).........................................................................an increased
demand for labour. At the same time, the cost of some
services, such as health care, e (increase)......................................................
so workers need to earn more money in later life. In addition, changes in social security benefits and rules
f (have).........................................................................a considerable effect on
labour patterns. First, in 1977 and 1983 changes to the Social
Security Act g (raise).........................................................................the full-benefit
age from 65 to 67 and h (introduce)....................................•.....................................
other changes that make delaying retirement more
attractive. Then, in 1986 the Age Discrimination Act i (end).........................................................................compulsory
retirement for all workers, allowing them to work later in life. Changes to pension laws
j (also encourage).........................................................................workers to stay in employment longer, as this gives them
more chance of a larger pension when they retire.
EXTENSION ACTIVITY
A   Choose one of these topics and say what has happened, what has been happening or what has happened. These can be fictional if you prefer.
news of family and friends  climate change  the political situation in your country
B   Use your knowledge of the news to make lists of:
things that have happened recently  things that have been happening things that happened
Need more practice? Go to the Review on page 208.
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